Do depression and anxiety mediate the relationship between meta-cognitive beliefs and psychological dimensions of auditory hallucinations and delusions in schizophrenia?

We investigated if depression and anxiety mediate the relationship between meta-cognitive beliefs and psychological dimensions of delusions and hallucinations in schizophrenia subjects (n=74). Depression, but not anxiety, mediated the relationship between certain dysfunctional meta-cognitive beliefs and psychological dimensions of delusions. Although direct effects between hallucination dimensions and certain meta-cognitive beliefs were found, anxiety and depression did not serve as mediators in this relationship. The results suggest a significant pathway from meta-cognition to delusions through depression.